Deflecting device



Dec. 29, 1942. H. B. GLASE DEFLEGTINQ DEVICE Fild Feb. 20, '1941 3mm HOWARD 5. 6L ASE Patented Dec. 29, 1942 ri' 1 UNTE.

STATES TENT orrlce 2 claims.

This invention relates to diggers of the endless elevator type, and more especially to a pulley designed to carry the conventional carrier of such machine.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a pulley for carrying the conveyor of diggers of the endless elevator type, said pulley being constructed in such a manner that stones are prevented from wedging between the conveyor and pulley.

A further object of this invention is to provide a pulley for carrying the conveyor of diggers of the endless elevator type, said pulley being constructed in such a manner that stones are prevented from wedging between the conveyor and frame of the digging machine.

With these and other objects in View, this invention embraces broadly the concept of providing a pulley, to carry the conveyor of diggers of the endless type, which is constructed in such a manner that stones which frequently lodge in the conveyor are prevented from wedging between the conveyor and the pulley or between either the conveyor or pulley and the frame. In order to accomplish this result, the heel plate portion of the pulley bracket is suiiiciently elongated to extend beyond the conventional flange portions of the pulley roller. This extension may be integral with the heel plate or may be mounted thereon.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the forward end of a potato 'digger showing a portion of the conveyor and the conveyor pulley.

Figure 2 -is a View taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows. e

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view looking I upwardly at the under surface of a potato digger.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view through one of the conveyor pulleys.

In order to illustrate the invention, I have shown the pulley used in connection with a potato digger. It is to be understood, however, that the pulley can be adapted for use on other machines of a similar type.

Therefore, in Figure 3 for purposes of illusl tration is shown a potato digger of standard structure comprising parallel channel members I to the extrem-ities of which is secured a digging shovel 2 which carries the usual trap fingers 3.

A conventional rod link conveyor 4 is mounted between the channel members I on a pair of pulley assemblies 5. As these pulley assemblies 5 are of identical construction, the structure of only one of them will be described.

Each of thepulley assemblies 5 comprises a iianged roller 6 and an 'attaching bracket 1. yThe anged roller 6 is mounted on a bushing 8 which is journalled on a shaftY 9. The shaft 9 is supported at one extremity by a yoke I0 which forms a portion of the bracket 1. The inner extremity of the shaft 9 passes through the channel member I and a reinforcing piece I2. The outer face of the bushing 8 is flanged to prevent undue play in the roller 6 and this play is further reduced by a retain-ing Washer I3 mounted on the shaft 9 intermediate the bushing 8 and the channel member I.

The bracket portion 'I of the pulley assembly 5 is provided with an arcuate slot I4 by means of which it is adjustably attached to the channel member I by a bolt I5. The arc of this slot is centered on the axis of the roller about the bolt Il.

The portion of the bracket 'I ab-ove the yoke I0 is formed into a horizontally extending plate I6 which extends into the upper groove of the pulley between the flange portions and prevents entry of foreign matter. The bracket 1 is also provided beneath the yoke I0 with an elongated heel portion I8 which extends beyond the perimeter of the flange portions of the roller 6. The heel portion I8 is als-o positioned directly in the rear of the grooved portion of the roller 6 and extends within the groove beneath the roller. This heel portion I8 may be either integral with the bracket 'l or be mounted thereon.

In operation the heel portion I8 is adjusted until it is in positive contact with the link conveyor 4 by adjusting the bracket portion I by means of the arcuate slot I4. When in this position the heel portion I8 is positioned directly rearward of and extends below the roller groove. The back portions of the curved links 4 engage closely the convex center portion of the heel portion I8 before reaching the roller '6 as shown in Figure 2. This eliminates any surface against which stones or other material could be lodged.

lIt is believed obvious, therefore, that the heel portion I8 will serve to deflect stones and other solid material which are carried by the conveyor and which would wedge between the conveyor and the pulley or between the pulley and the frame and cause a clogging which would either stop the conveyor or subject it to severe strain. Wear on the conveyor 4 can be compensated by adjusting the bracket portion 'I in the manner which has previously been' described.

In order to make the device operate properly, the heel portion must extend beyond the outer circumference of both ange portions of the roller 6 and must be positioned intermediate these flange portions and preferably extend slightly within the groove formed by these portions and beneath the roller.

While for purposes of illustration I have disclosed one embodiment of the bracket portion of the pulley which forms the principal feature of this invention, it is obvious that variations of this structure may be made within the limits described in the specification without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In combination with a pulley and an endless conveyor cooperating therewith, a bracket mounted for pivotal adjustment about the axis of the pulley, -a substantially tetrahedral deilector carried by the bracket and positioned between the upper and lower runs of the conveyor, said tetrahedral delector having one of its edges lying adjacent the peripheral face of the pulley and extending substantially laterally thereacross, the edge opposite the rst mentioned edge lying in a plane perpendicular to and bisecting said rst mentioned edge, and the face dened by the rst mentioned edge and lower extremity of the second mentioned edge projecting substantially tangentially from the said pulley and engaging the inner face of the lower run of said conveyor whereby debris carried by said inner face of the conveyor toward said pulley is deilected to each side of said pulley.

2. In combination with a pulley and an endless conveyor cooperating therewith, a bracket mounted for pivotal adjustment about the axis of the pulley, a substantially tetrahedral deector carried by the bracket and positioned between the upper and lower runs of the conveyor, said tetrahedral delector having one of its edges lying adjacent the peripheral face of the pulley and extending substantially laterally thereacross, the edge opposite the first mentioned edge .lying in a plane perpendicular to and bisecting said first mentioned edge, and the face dened by the first mentioned edge and' lower extremity of the second mentioned edge projecting substantially tangentially from said pulley, said face having an arcuate cross sectional conformation for substantially linear engagement with the inner face of the lower run of said conveyor whereby debris carried by said inner face of the conveyor toward said pulley is deflected to each side of said pulley.

HOWARD B. GLASE. 

